Accredited online and on-campus courses from leading Australian universities, TAFEs and colleges
Turn your passion for animals into a rewarding professional career by studying a veterinary nurse course.
Critical to the successful running of a veterinary practice, a veterinary nurse works closely with a veterinary surgeon to provide care and treatment for a wide range of animals. A natural fit for those with a passion for animals, or a history with pets, veterinary nursing is also a well-suited career for anyone seeking purpose, fulfilment and close mentoring and professional support in their future career.
Often working in intimate, close-knit teams, a veterinary nurse enjoys the personal and professional benefits of working closely with their supervisor in hands-on and often dynamic situations. Depending on the nature and size of a practice, a veterinary nurse may assist with procedures, including administering medicines and anaesthetic, or take on a management or supervisory role in the practice’s day-to-day operation.
While the profession can be demanding, the relationships build with both people and animals make it a deeply satisfying and enriching experience, and a diverse range of opportunities exist for personal and professional development. Studying a veterinary nurse course is your first step on this path.
You may choose to study a range of veterinary nurse qualifications, ranging from a Certificate IV to a Bachelor’s degree. Alternative entry pathways are also available, if you choose not to pursue veterinary nurse studies. Courses in animal studies, animal handling and wildlife offer pathways to pursuing further study in veterinary nursing, or offer employment opportunities in related fields.
Career opportunities after completing a veterinary nurse course may include work as a veterinary nurse or veterinary assistant, or other employment in animal industries, including work as an animal technician, animal care attendant, animal shelter assistant, or pet groomer.
Veterinary nurses are intimately involved with the operation and management of a veterinary practice, and work closely with veterinary surgeons to treat and care for animals.
Day-to-day tasks as a veterinary nurse may include work like administering medicine to animals, admitting and preparing animals, sterilising and organising equipment, performing diagnostic and pathology tests, administering anaesthetic, ordering and managing stock, interacting with customers, scheduling appointments, and performing administrative and logistical duties in a veterinary practice.
Working in a small team, veterinary nurses have opportunities to work across a range of roles, and your responsibilities may change depending on the nature of your practice. In addition to developing your technical animal handling skills, a veterinary nurse qualification will enable you to build skills in leadership, management and organisation.
After completing a veterinary nurse course, you may choose to pursue further study and obtain a bachelor’s degree in veterinary science, in order to work as a veterinarian.
Graduates of veterinary nurse courses usually pursue employment in veterinary clinics, and may work as a:
You’ll enjoy studying veterinary nursing if you:
While new job opportunities for veterinary nurse graduates are competitive, with a limited number of new roles opening each year, the Australian Government’s Job Outlook projects strong growth in the industry to 2020, in line with its growth each year for the past decade.
Veterinary nurses may also choose to build skills in management and operations, with PayScale reporting career opportunities in practice management following work as a veterinary nurse.
A veterinary nurse in Australia can expect to earn between $36,000 and $55,000 per year, according to PayScale. While veterinary nurses with more experience do earn more than those with less experience, the gap isn’t significant and entry-level veterinary nurses can expect to earn a competitive wage while building experience and essential skills.
